Ferrero Opens $214 Million Chocolate Factory In Illinois

Ferrero North America announced the opening of its new $214 million Kinder Bueno production facility in Bloomington, Ill., this week, marking the company’s first chocolate factory located outside of Europe.

The 169,000 sq. ft. facility is part of an expansion of its existing campus, which produces Crunch, 100 Grand, Raisinets and other chocolate products, and will see the addition of 200 new jobs in the region.

Kinder Bueno products were introduced to the U.S. in 2019 and in the past year alone generated $214 million in retail sales, according to Ferrero. The Kinder brand, which also spans Kinder Joy, Kinder Chocolate and Kinder seasonal products, has grown to a $500 million brand since its stateside debut in 2017.

“Kinder Bueno quickly became an American favorite after being introduced just five years ago, and with the support of leaders in Illinois, the Bloomington community, and our valued retail partners like Walmart, the brand will continue to grow and thrive,” said Michael Lindsey, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, in a statement.

Illinois is also home to Ferrero’s North American Innovation Center and R&D Labs, a Butterfinger and Baby Ruth manufacturing plant, and a Keebler factory. The company also recently added a Nutella & GO production line at a plant in Brantford, Ont., and operates other facilities across Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“Ferrero’s investments in American manufacturing bring new jobs to our communities and support workforce development,” said Jason Fremstad, SVP of Supplier Development, Global Sourcing at Walmart. “We’re proud to support our suppliers making these critical investments, which are good for business, good for the country, and most importantly good for local communities.”